Mail-box indicator.



No. 7|3,958. Patented Nov. I8, |902.

L. T.'GAROTHERS.

MAIL Box 'mnlcATom (Application led Hay 1, 1902,)

WITNESS 4 TTOHNEYS`V UNrrnn STATES nrnNr muon.

LAWRENCE T. OAROTHERS, OF CAREY, OHIO.

MAIL-BOX INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,958, dated November 18, 1902.

Application filed May l, 1902.

To all whom t may concern: I

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE T. CAROTH- ERS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Carey, in the count-y of Wyandot and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in indicators, and is especially intended for use on letter-boxes to indicate the times of collections of the mail therefrom by the carrier or other collector; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and t-he combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of a part of the letter-box provided with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on about line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on about line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one edge of the indicator-frames with the indicatingblocks in place. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the sectional blocks in the form of a cube, and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the hollow elongated blocks.

By my invention I seek to provide means whereby the times indicated-on the box for the collection of the mail therefrom can be readily changed to suit a new schedule. To this end I employ what I term the indicating-frame A and a casing therefor which comprises a box or rim B, which fits around the edges of the frame A when the latter is in position for use. The box or rim B may be a ilange cast integrally with the letter-box or it may be separately formed and suitably secu red to the box, the box forming the bottom of the receptacle for the indicating-frame A or the rim having a bottom plate, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, as may be desired.

The indicating-frame A is formed to lit within the box or rim B, is hinged at its lower end at A', so it can swing outwardly at its upper end, and is provided on its rear side at its upper end with a rearwardly-projecting. stud A2, which extends through an opening C' in the bottom of the box B and receives a pin D or other suitable fastening by which to secure the frame A in the box or rim B. The pin D, as shown in Fig. 2, is located within the letter-box and is only accessible to the Serial No. 105,540. (No model.)

letter-carrier or other mail-collector, so the adjustable devices in the indicating-frame In the center of the frame A a space a may be provided to receive any desired instructions for the patrons of the letter-box, and in the face of the frame A, adjacent to its side edges, I provide aseries of sight-openings E, through which the inscriptions on the blocks F are exposed. The blocks F fit in sockets G, leading from the side edges of the frame A and intersec'red by the sight-openings E. As shown in Fig. 4, the sockets G are square in cross-section and receive the blocks F, which are also square in cross-section, so they can be removed from the sockets and turned to present any one of their four faces to show through the sight-openings. The blocks receive the figures and 'letters to indicate the different times ofthe schedule and can be readily adjusted in their respective sockets to indicate any ordinary schedule for the collection of mail. Manifestly the blocks may be made of porcelain, aluminium, or other suitable serviceable material. The blocks F are shown as solid and in the form of cubes, with several blocks inserted in each of the sockets G. It may,however, be preferred to make the blocks hollow, as shown at F', or to elongate the same, as shown at F2, so that one block will fit in and fill the socket in which it is placed from end to end, as shown. It will be noticed, however, that in all nstancesvthe blocks are square in cross-section, so that they ll the socket in all adjustments and can be turned to expose any face through the sight-opening leading to the socket in which the said block is fitted.

When the indicating-frame is adjusted in the casing aorded by the box or rim B, the sides of the rim overlap and cover the outer ends of the sockets G and prevent any displacement of the blocks fitted therein. At the same time the carrier or other collector can conveniently unfasten the stud A2 and swing the indicating-frame forward on its hinges and adjust the indicating-blocks in their sockets in any suitable manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination substantially as herein described of the box provided upon its face with a box or rim and having near one side of said rim an opening for the fastening-stud, the indicating-frame provided near one edge with a stud to project through said opening in the box and hinged at its opposite edge and swinging on said hinge into and out of the box or rim and provided at its front with a series of sight-openings and With a series of sockets leading from its edge and intersected by said opening, said sockets being square in cross-section, and the indicatingblocks made square in cross-section and fitted in said sockets and arranged for adjustment to present any desired face to position for exposure through the sight-openings, substantialiy as set forth.

2. The combination of an indicator-frame, a box or rim fitted to receive said frame, hinge connection between said box or rim and the indicating-frame at one edge of the latter, the indicating-frame provided in one edge with sockets square in cross-section and having sight-openings intersecting their respective sockets, and the indicating blocks made square in cross-section and fitting in the said sockets and arranged for adjustment, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. An indicating-frame provided with sightopenings and with sockets leading from one edge and intersected by said openings and made square in cross-section, and the blocks fitting in said sockets and made square in cross-section and arranged for adjustment within their respective sockets, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the box or rim B of the indicating-frame fitting in said box or rim and provided in its side edges with laterally-opening sockets and in its face with sight-openings intersecting their respective sockets and the indicating-blocks fitting in said sockets and arranged to be retained therein by the box or rim, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the indicator-frame, a support to which said frame is hinged at one edge, the indicator-frame being provided in its side edges with sockets square in crosssection and having in its face openings intersecting said sockets, blocks in and fitting the said sockets and plates overlapping the outer ends of the 'sockets in the closed position of the frame whereby to retain the blocksin the sockets in such adjustment of the indicatingframe, substantially as set forth.

LAWRENCE T. OAROTHERS. 

